Learning to breathe

I’ve belonged to spiritual spaces that required I forget my body – my Black, woman, sick body — to survive. I want the liturgies of…any spiritual encounter, to make me more whole, never dismembered…Will we breathe together? Relax our shoulders, unclinch our jaws? For the divine is just as present in our breath, in our flesh, as in our mental realm.

—Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies

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Let’s begin our time together by becoming present. 

Place your hand on your heart and let’s take a few slow,

deep breaths together. 

—pause for mindful breathing—

In our slowing down, we are given room to pay attention.

[from The Well’s Sunday gathering guide]

At some point, we started weaving prompts like the one above into our opening Sunday community reading. Taking a few slow, deep breaths tends to set the tone of our gathering and also tells you a little something about how we gather.

This Easter Sunday, we had already enjoyed a delicious brunch and lots of conversation when we began in our usual way.

As we stopped to breathe, I realized for the first time just how much this little pause is shaping us. I first noticed how still and quiet everything became. Except for the muffled sounds of a handful of children playing together, all of our chatter suddenly came to a stop. You could hear the birds and feel the breeze. I could sense a shift and a subtle centering.

I peeked around and noticed everyone engaged, and that’s when it hit me: 

We are learning to breathe together here. We are learning to breathe!

If you had told me when I started The Well that this realization would make me tear up, I would not have believed you. Breathing? Is that really such a big deal? Is that “spiritual” and is that something worth celebrating? 

Just ask anyone who’s had a panic attack or anyone with asthma or anyone who’s been held down with a boot on their neck. Not being able to breathe means not being able to live.

Breath is not only essential for life though. Breathing has the power to bring us back to our bodies. Taking a few slow, deep breaths - creating a pause between stimulus and response - can deescalate anger and give us space to choose the next word wisely. Breathing can connect us with the Breath of Life that is flowing in and out of our bodies. It reminds us that life is gift.

This Sunday is our next sabbath Sunday. Just like breathing has become part of our rhythm, so has rest. Both are helping us to experience healing.  As we rest from the work of gathering in community this weekend, don’t forget to make space to breathe, to let it reconnect you with what’s essential and to remind you of the grace of simply being here.